Fan structure

ABSTRACT

A fan structure includes a base, a circuit board, a coil assembly, a fan blade and a bearing assembly. The circuit board is arranged on the base and includes an electronic component disposed thereon. The coil assembly is arranged on the base and electrically connected to the circuit board; the electronic component is arranged at an area outside of another area directly underneath the coil assembly. The internal of the fan blade includes a magnet; a bearing assembly is provided for the fan blade pivotally attached to the base therewith; the magnet is disposed at an external of the coil assembly. Therefore, the electronic component would not occupy the space in the axial direction of the motor in order to reduce the height of the fan blade without affecting air intake; the electronic component is visible from the outer appearance such that the repair of the circuit is facilitated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to a fan structure, in particular, to a fan structure used in an electronic information product.

2. Description of Related Art

As electronic information products, such as computers, are widely adapted in various fields and applications, the high demands for such products continuously drive the electronic information industry to grow and development rapidly along with greater computation speeds and increased storage capacities, which also tends to cause the generation of high temperatures during the high speed operations of the components in the electronic information products. For example, in a computer host machine, the central processing unit (CPU) inside the machine generates most of the heat of the machine; furthermore, when the heat generated by the central processing unit gradually builds up, the performance of the machine is likely to be affected and reduced, which can cause the computer to break down or even damages to the computer if the buildup of the heat becomes significant.

Conventionally, fans are often used for dissipating the heat generated by the internal electronic units operating inside electronic information products. Typical fan structures mostly arrange the electronic components of the circuit board to be directly underneath the coil assembly (stator) of the motor; however, with such configuration, the electronic components occupy the space in the axial direction of the motor such that the height of the fan blade cannot be reduced, which then further affects the air intake thereof. Furthermore, by arranging the electronic components directly underneath the coil assembly (stator), the electronic components cannot be visibly seen from the outer appearance, which causes the maintenance and repair of the circuit to be difficult, in addition to that the lead wire portion needs to be additionally soldered onto the circuit board such that the additional soldering of the manufacturing process is required.

In view of the above, the inventor seeks to overcome the problems associated with the currently existing technique after years of research and development along with the utilization of theoretical principles, and it is an objective of the inventor to provide a reasonable design and an improvement capable of effectively solve the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a fan structure such that the space in the axial direction of the motor is not occupied by the electronic component in order to allow the height of the fan blade to be reduced without affecting the air intake thereof; in addition, the electronic component is visible from the outer appearance such that the maintenance and repair of the circuit are facilitated.

Another technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to further provide a fan structure such that the lead wire portion is not required to be additionally soldered onto the circuit board in order to reduce the manufacturing process of soldering.

To solve the aforementioned technical problems, the present invention provides a fan structure comprising:

-   -   a base     -   a circuit board arranged on the base and having an electronic         component disposed thereon;     -   a coil assembly arranged on the base and electrically connected         to the circuit board; the electronic component arranged at an         area outside of another area directly underneath the coil         assembly;     -   a fan blade having a magnet arranged at an internal thereof; and     -   a bearing assembly provided to allow the fan blade to be         pivotally attached to the base therewith; the magnet disposed at         an external of the coil assembly.

According to the aforementioned fan structure, wherein circuit board is divided into a first portion and a second portion; the first portion is arranged directly underneath the coil assembly; one end of the second portion is connected to an edge of the first portion and another end thereof extends out of the base; the electronic component is disposed on the second portion outside of the base.

According to the aforementioned fan structure, wherein circuit board is divided into a first portion and a second portion; the first portion is arranged underneath the coil assembly; one end of the second portion is connected to an edge of the first portion, and the second portion is arranged inside the base; the electronic component is disposed on the second portion.

According to the aforementioned fan structure, wherein the electronic component is disposed underneath of the fan blade.

According to the aforementioned fan structure, wherein the circuit board is a flexible printed circuit board or a rigid printed circuit board.

The present invention further provides a fan structure comprising:

-   -   a base     -   a circuit board arranged on the base and having an electronic         component disposed thereon;     -   a coil assembly arranged on the base and electrically connected         to the circuit board; the electronic component arranged at an         area outside of another area directly underneath the coil         assembly; and     -   a fan blade having a magnet arranged at an internal thereof; the         fan blade pivotally attached on the base; the magnet disposed at         an external of the coil.

According to the aforementioned fan structure, wherein circuit board is divided into a first portion and a second portion; the first portion is arranged directly underneath the coil assembly; one end of the second portion is connected to an edge of the first portion and another end thereof extends out of the base; the electronic component is disposed on the second portion outside of the base.

According to the aforementioned fan structure, wherein circuit board is divided into a first portion and a second portion; the first portion is arranged underneath the coil assembly; one end of the second portion is connected to an edge of the first portion, and the second portion is arranged inside the base; the electronic component is disposed on the second portion.

According to the aforementioned fan structure, wherein the electronic component is disposed underneath of the fan blade.

According to the aforementioned fan structure, wherein the circuit board is a flexible printed circuit board or a rigid printed circuit board.

The aforementioned fan structure further comprising a bearing assembly; wherein the bearing assembly comprises an axle center and a bearing; the axle center is arranged on the base; a center of the fan blade includes an axle sleeve secured thereon; the bearing is received inside the axle sleeve, and the axle center penetrates through the bearing.

According to the aforementioned fan structure, wherein the axle center is secured onto the base via a method of soldering, insertion, riveting or inserting molding.

According to the aforementioned fan structure, wherein the axle center is secured onto the an axle housing, and the axle housing is secured onto the base.

According to the aforementioned fan structure, wherein the axle center is secured onto the base via a method of soldering, insertion, riveting or inserting molding.

According to the aforementioned fan structure, further comprising a bearing assembly; wherein the bearing assembly comprises an axle center and a bearing; the axle center is arranged at a center of the fan blade; the base includes an axle sleeve secured thereon; the bearing is received inside the axle sleeve, and the axle center penetrates through the bearing.

The present invention is of at least the following merits:

In the fan structure of the present invention, the electronic component is arranged at an area outside another area directly underneath the coil assembly; therefore, the electronic component would not occupy the space in the axial direction of the motor, and the height of the fan blade can be reduced in order to save the height of the fan in the axial direction while increasing the space for air intake; as a result, the overall size of the fan can be slim. In addition, the electronic component is visible from the outer appearance such that the maintenance and repair of the circuit are facilitated.

Furthermore, the circuit board of the present invention can further include a second portion extended thereon. The second portion extends out of the base and the electronic component is disposed on the second portion outside the base; therefore, the second portion can be used as a lead wire and its rear end can be directly inserted into a connector of a client system such that the manufacturing process of soldering is reduced.

To further illustrate the features and technical content of the present invention, the following provides a detailed description of the present invention along with the accompanied drawings. However, it shall be understood that the accompanied drawings are provided for illustrative purposes only and shall not be treated as limitations of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a fan structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fan structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the fan structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of a fan structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view of a fan structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of a fan structure according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the present utility model provides a fan structure, which can be an inverted or non-inverted fan. The present embodiment discloses an inverted fan. The fan structure comprises a base 1, a circuit board 2, a coil assembly 3, a fan blade 4 and a bearing assembly 5.

The shape and structure of base 1 are not limited to any form and can be modified according to the needs. The base 1 can be an integrally formed structure or an assembled structure. The base 1 can be made of a plastic material, metal material or a combination thereof. The material of the base 1 is also not limited to any type. The base 1 can be used for supporting structural members of the circuit board 2, the coil assembly 3, the fan blade 4 and the bearing assembly 5 and so on.

The circuit board 2 can be a flexible or rigid printed circuit board. In this embodiment, the printed circuit board 2 can be flexible printed circuit board (soft board), and the circuit board 2 is disposed on the base 1. The coil assembly 3 is also disposed on the base 1. The circuit board 2 can be arranged underneath the coil assembly 3 or at any other locations. The circuit board 2 arranged underneath the coil assembly 3 facilitates the coil 31 of the coil assembly 3 to be soldered onto the circuit board 2 in order to allow the coil assembly 3 to be electrically connected to the circuit board 2. An insulation sheet (not shown in the figure) can be further provided between the circuit board 2 and the coil assembly 3; alternatively the insulation sheet can also be omitted in order to achieve the effect of reducing the height thereof. In another embodiment, the circuit board 2 can be arranged on other location of the base 1; for example, the circuit board 2 can be arranged at an area outside another area directly underneath the coil assembly 3.

The circuit board 2 includes an electronic component 21. The electronic component 21 can also be covered by a gel member in order to be properly packaged. The electronic component 21 can be used for actuating the coil assembly 3 in order to allow the coil assembly 3 and the magnet 6 to generate a magnetic chain reaction therebetween and to further drive the fan blade 4 to rotate. The electronic component 21 is arranged at an area outside another area directly underneath the coil assembly 3, which means that the electronic component 21 is not arranged between an area directly underneath the coil assembly 3 and the base 1 such that the electronic component 21 would not occupy the space in the axial direction of the motor.

In this embodiment, the circuit board 2 is further divided into a first portion 22 and a second portion 23. The first portion 22 is generally of a circular disk shape, and the first portion 22 is arranged underneath the coil assembly 3. The second portion 23 is generally of a rectangular plate shape; one end of the second portion 23 is connected to the edge of the first portion 22 and another end of the second portion 23 extends out of the base 1. The electronic component 21 is arranged on the second portion 23 outside of the base 1 in order to allow the electronic component 21 to be arranged at an area outside another area directly underneath the coil assembly 3. The second portion 23 can also be used as a lead wire; the rear end of the second portion 23 or the lead wire can be directly inserted into the connector the client system in order to reduce the manufacturing process of soldering.

The fan blade 4 is pivotally attached to the base 1 via the bearing assembly 5. The internal of the fan blade 4 includes a magnet 6 with a ring shape, and the magnet 6 is a permanent magnet. The magnet 6 is disposed at an external of the coil assembly 3 and the magnet 6 is adjacent to the coil assembly 3 such that a suitable air gap is provided between the inner edge of the magnet 6 and the outer edge of the coil assembly 3. The coil assembly 3 and the magnet 6 together construct the motor of the fan structure in order to drive the fan blade to rotate.

The structure of the bearing assembly 5 is not limited to any form. The bearing assembly 5 comprises an axle center 51 and a bearing 52. The axle center 51 penetrates into the bearing 52; the axle center 51 and the bearing 52 can rotate relative to each other. The axle center 51 and the bearing 52 are arranged between the base 1 and the fan blade 4. The fan blade 4 can be pivotally attached to the internal of the fan via the axle center 51 and the bearing 52.

The present embodiment discloses an inverted fan; therefore, the bearing 5 is configured to be of an inverted design correspondingly. To be more specific, the axle center 51 is arranged on the base 1, and the axle center 51 can be directly or indirectly secured on the base 1. For example, the axle center 51 can be secured onto the base 1 via a method of soldering (such as laser soldering), insertion, riveting or inserting molding. In this embodiment, the axle center 51 is secured onto an axle base 53 in advance via the method of soldering (such as laser soldering), insertion, riveting or inserting molding, followed by securing the axle base 53 onto the base 1 in order to allow the axle center 51 to be indirectly secured onto the base 1. The coil assembly 3 can be arranged at an external of the axle base 53.

In addition, the center of the fan blade 4 includes an axle sleeve 54. The axle sleeve 54 is preferably but not limited to metal member. The axle sleeve 54 is a hollow circular column; the bearing 52 is also a hollow circular column. The bearing 52 is received inside the axle sleeve 54, and the bearing 52 can be secured inside the axle sleeve 4 via a press-fit method and other methods. The axle center 51 penetrates into the bearing 52 in order to allow the fan blade 4 to be pivotally attached to the base 1 via the use of the axle center 51 and the bearing 42 such that the rotation of the fan blade 4 can be smoother.

The bearing assembly 5 can further suitably include a storage tank and an oil guiding channel (not shown in the figure) in order to facilitate the supply of sufficient lubricant oil to the axle center 51 and the bearing 52 and to prevent the frictions between the axle center 51 and the bearing 52; therefore, the noise generated can be reduced, and the useful lifetime of the axle center 51 and the bearing 52 can be prolonged. The top portion inside the axle sleeve 54 can further include a pad 55 with a greater abrasion resistance in order to allow the top end of the axle center 51 to abut against the pad 55. The bottom portion of the axle sleeve 54 can further include a cover 56 in order to prevent the lubricant oil inside the axle sleeve 54 to leak out as well as to reduce the consumption of the lubricant oil.

Second Embodiment

As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the circuit board 2 is a flexible printed circuit board. The circuit board 2 is disposed on the base 1. The circuit board 2 is divided into a first portion 22 and a second portion 23, and the first portion 22 is arranged underneath the coil assembly 3. The second portion 23 is of a rectangular plate shape, and one end of the second portion 23 is connected to an edge of the first portion; the second portion 23 is arranged inside the base 1. The electronic component 21 is arranged on the second portion 23 inside the base 1 in order to allow the electronic component 21 to be arranged at an area outside another area directly underneath the coil assembly 3.

Third Embodiment

As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the circuit board 2 is a rigid printed circuit board (hard board), and the circuit board is disposed on the base 1. The circuit board 2 includes an electronic component 21. The electronic component 21 is located at an area underneath the fan blade 4, and the electronic component 21 is arranged at an area outside another area directly underneath the coil assembly 3.

Fourth Embodiment

As shown in FIG. 6, the present embodiment discloses a typical fan, and the bearing assembly 5 comprises an axle center 51 and a bearing 52. The axle center 51 is arranged at the center of the fan blade 4. The base 1 includes an axle sleeve 54 secured thereon. The bearing 52 is received inside the bearing sleeve 54, and the axle center 51 penetrates into the bearing 52 in order to allow the fan blade 4 to be pivotally attached to the internal of the fan by using the axle center 51 and the bearing 52.

In this embodiment, the circuit board 2 is a rigid printed circuit board, and the circuit board 2 is arranged on the base 1. The circuit board 2 includes an electronic component 21 disposed thereon. The electronic component 21 is at an area underneath the fan blade 4, and the electronic component 21 is arranged at an area outside another area directly underneath the coil assembly 3.

In the fan structure of the present invention, the electronic component is arranged at an area outside another area directly underneath the coil assembly; therefore, the electronic component would not occupy the space in the axial direction of the motor, and the height of the fan blade can be reduced in order to save the height of the fan in the axial direction while increasing the space for air intake; as a result, the overall size of the fan can be slim. In addition, the electronic component is visible from the outer appearance such that the maintenance and repair of the circuit are facilitated.

Secondary, the circuit board of the present invention can further include a second portion extended thereon. The second portion extends out of the base and the electronic component is disposed on the second portion outside the base; therefore, the second portion can be used as a lead wire and its rear end can be directly inserted into a connector of a client system such that the manufacturing process of soldering is reduced.

To further illustrate the features and technical content of the present invention, the following provides a detailed description of the present invention along with the accompanied drawings. However, it shall be understood that the accompanied drawings are provided for illustrative purposes only and shall not be treated as limitations of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fan structure comprising: a base a circuit board arranged on the base and having an electronic component disposed thereon; a coil assembly arranged on the base and electrically connected to the circuit board; the electronic component arranged at an area outside of another area directly underneath the coil assembly; a fan blade having a magnet arranged at an internal thereof; and a bearing assembly provided to allow the fan blade to be pivotally attached to the base therewith; the magnet disposed at an external of the coil assembly.
 2. The fan structure according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board is divided into a first portion and a second portion; the first portion is arranged directly underneath the coil assembly; one end of the second portion is connected to an edge of the first portion and another end thereof extends out of the base; the electronic component is disposed on the second portion outside of the base.
 3. The fan structure according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board is divided into a first portion and a second portion; the first portion is arranged underneath the coil assembly; one end of the second portion is connected to an edge of the first portion, and the second portion is arranged inside the base; the electronic component is disposed on the second portion.
 4. The fan structure according to claim 1, wherein the electronic component is disposed underneath of the fan blade.
 5. The fan structure according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board is a flexible printed circuit board or a rigid printed circuit board.
 6. A fan structure comprising: a base a circuit board arranged on the base and having an electronic component disposed thereon; a coil assembly arranged on the base and electrically connected to the circuit board; the electronic component arranged at an area outside of another area directly underneath the coil assembly; and a fan blade having a magnet arranged at an internal thereof; the fan blade pivotally attached on the base; the magnet disposed at an external of the coil.
 7. The fan structure according to claim 6, wherein the circuit board is divided into a first portion and a second portion; the first portion is arranged directly underneath the coil assembly; one end of the second portion is connected to an edge of the first portion and another end thereof extends out of the base; the electronic component is disposed on the second portion outside of the base.
 8. The fan structure according to claim 6, wherein the circuit board is divided into a first portion and a second portion; the first portion is arranged underneath the coil assembly; one end of the second portion is connected to an edge of the first portion, and the second portion is arranged inside the base; the electronic component is disposed on the second portion.
 9. The fan structure according to claim 6, wherein the electronic component is disposed underneath of the fan blade.
 10. The fan structure according to claim 6, wherein the circuit board is a flexible printed circuit board or a rigid printed circuit board.
 11. The fan structure according to claim 6, further comprising a bearing assembly; wherein the bearing assembly comprises an axle center and a bearing; the axle center is arranged on the base; a center of the fan blade includes an axle sleeve secured thereon; the bearing is received inside the axle sleeve, and the axle center penetrates through the bearing.
 12. The fan structure according to claim 11, wherein the axle center is secured onto the base via a method of soldering, insertion, riveting or inserting molding.
 13. The fan structure according to claim 11, wherein the axle center is secured onto the an axle housing, and the axle housing is secured onto the base.
 14. The fan structure according to claim 13, wherein the axle center is secured onto the base via a method of soldering, insertion, riveting or inserting molding.
 15. The fan structure according to claim 6, further comprising a bearing assembly; wherein the bearing assembly comprises an axle center and a bearing; the axle center is arranged at a center of the fan blade; the base includes an axle sleeve secured thereon; the bearing is received inside the axle sleeve, and the axle center penetrates through the bearing. 